These developments are part of an announced effort to reduce emissions, as Beijing aims for carbon neutrality in 2060 and renewables gain ground in the energy mix. Chinese authorities have committed to stepping up efforts to cut CO2 emissions and accelerate the energy transition, with the goal of carbon neutrality by 2060.
Coal consumption also fell by 3% year-on-year, despite the construction of new coal-fired power plants in China.
The country has seen a meteoric rise in its renewable energy capacity, while coal's share of its energy mix has declined slightly in recent years.
The country nevertheless remains the world's largest CO2 emitter. It accounts for more than 31% of global greenhouse gases, ahead of the United States (12.7%) and India (8.3%).
A CREA report, based on official figures and trade data, indicates that global oil consumption fell by 4% year-on-year, while transport fuel consumption declined by 9%.
China's CO2 emissions fell by 3.1% year-on-year, according to available data, the steepest decline recently observed for the world's largest emitter."This comes in a context where China's oil consumption had very likely already peaked before the shock,"he added, according to the same report.